Amazon's New Echo Smart Speakers Hands-On: Much-Needed Makeover

Amazon unleashed a fleet of new Echo products in Seattle last week. As an Alexa-powered Echo Dot user, I was beyond excited for the new products like the new Echo Dot, the Echo Sub, etc. So, when Amazon invited us to check out their new products hither in India, I happily stepped forrad and took them for a quick spin. Here's what I recall about the new Echo devices –

The New Repeat Dot: I like It

Amazon's New Echo Smart Speakers Hands-On: A Much-Needed Makeover — Tertiary-Generation Echo Dot in Black Colour

Having spent an entire afternoon with Amazon's new Echo Dot speaker, I am happy to study that information technology's pretty amazing. It'south the third-generation of Repeat Dot, and we finally have a speaker that looks visually highly-seasoned. The new Repeat Dot, as you tin can encounter, has rounded corners instead of precipitous edges, along with fabric covers.

You lot can go it in three colors – Blackness, White, and Grey, but I personally liked the White one. It is a little larger than the previous generation Repeat Dot, just won't discover the difference unless you compare them side-by-side. I didn't have a Google Habitation Mini to compare, but I'd say they are just about the aforementioned size.

The new Echo Dot is slightly larger because it has a significantly larger speaker. Amazon says the new 1 is 70 percent louder than the previous model, and it also has much better sound quality. I won't say the new Echo Dot will give the larger Echo devices similar the Echo Plus, etc. a run for its money, but I do think that it is louder and props to Amazon for improving the hardware without charging more.

Pre-social club the Repeat Dot (3rd Gen) on Amazon (Rs. iv,499)

Repeat Sub: This One Is for Audiophiles

The Echo speakers may have dominated the smart home space due to Alexa'south wide range of skills, but they've ever lacked in the sound quality section. Well, that's exactly what the new Echo Sub is here to set. The new Echo Sub, which acts equally a companion device, will definitely make audiophiles happy.

The Echo Sub is essentially a subwoofer which you tin can connect with any of your Echo speakers for a large bass boost. For instance, yous can connect the Echo Sub to two Echo Dot speakers to create a 2.one arrangement. You can even go crazy and connect multiple speakers and get impressive output.

Merely like the Echo Dot, the Echo Sub also has a fabric material surrounding its hefty trunk. It stands viii-inches tall, but it doesn't look awkwardly large for a subwoofer. Information technology also seems similar it would be easy to clean the Repeat Sub's fabric, but I m sure it'll start collecting dust in no time.

Nosotros were given a quick demo at the briefing, and I must say that I was pretty impressed. The Echo Sub was continued to a full of five other Repeat speakers, and the effect was solid. The Repeat Sub has a six-inch, downward-firing woofer and a 100-watt form D amplifier. I wasn't able to spend a lot of time listening to head-banging music, but I call up the Echo Sub is a promising start.

Pre-order the Echo Sub on Amazon (Rs. 12,999)

The New Repeat Plus: Ameliorate than Before

Lastly, I got my hands on the new Echo Plus, which, according to me, has received some noteworthy upgrades. The showtime thing you'll find is the new design. The 2d-generation Echo Plus now stands noticeably shorter than the previous model. In fact, it looks very similar to the Echo speaker that was released final yr, cheers to the rounded corners and a shorter cylindrical shape.

The new Echo Plus also has a fabric encompass that looks much improve than the plastic end on the other model. Just, it'southward not just about the looks, though. The new Repeat Plus has some keen tricks up its sleeves.

Information technology now has a temperature sensor, with the assist of which Alexa can at present tell the exact temperature wherever it is placed. The Repeat Plus likewise supports local voice control, with which you lot'll be able to control smart devices with Alexa even if the net goes out. Sadly, I wasn't able to exam any of these features, only we'll have more on this once we spend more time with them in the future.

I would also like to point out that Amazon has removed the rotating dial from the previous model. The company says it'southward s blueprint decision that makes the new Echo Plus wait more compatible. I totally understand that, only I recall the rotating dial is definitely something that I volition miss.

Coming to the audio quality, I'd say the Repeat Plus sounds pretty good. That'south not unexpected as Amazon says that the new Repeat Plus gets an improved 360-caste sound experience. It fifty-fifty has a 3-inch woofer along with a pocket-size tweeter, so you tin look this speaker to audio fashion improve than the smaller Echo Dot. Pair it with an Echo Sub, and you accept a existent winner here.

Pre-order the Repeat Plus (2d gen) on Amazon (Rs. xiv,999)

Overall, I'd say that Amazon has managed to deliver the much-needed makeover to the Echo speakers. Obviously, I am not suggesting you to get out and replace your existing Echo speakers. But if you are in the marketplace to buy your first smart speaker, then Amazon's new offerings are something that y'all can proudly brandish in your living room.